Modern Aquarium by Dan Radebaugh

modern Series III ON THE COVER The Betta fatx on our cover this month is a "different and unusual mouthbrooder," Read more about the care, breeding, and history, of this fish in the article by Al Priest in this month's issue. Photo by Alexander A. Priest GREATER CITY AQUARIUM SOCIETY Board Members President . . . . . . . . . . .Joseph Ferdenzi Vice-President . . . . . . . Mark Soberman Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Traub Corres. Secretary . . . . . . . Warren Feuer Recording Secretary , . . .Edward Vukich Members At Large Steve Chen Carlotti DeJager Jason Kerner Greg Wuest

Pete D'Orio Claudia Dickinson Ben Haus Emma Haus

Committee Chairs Breeder Award ... . . ,. Warren Feuer and Mark Soberman Early Arrivals . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete D'Orio F.A.A.S. Delegate . . . . . Alexander Priest Members/Programs . Claudia Dickinson N.E.C. Delegate . . . . Claudia Dickinson MODERN AQUARIUM Editor in Chief . . . . . Alexander A. Priest Associate Editors . . . . Susan Priest and Claudia Dickinson Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . •..•'.. Dora Dong Photo/Layout Editor . . . . . Jason Kerner Advertising Mgr. .Mark Soberman Executive Editor . . . . . .Joseph Ferdenzi

Vol. XI. No. 2

February. 2004

FEATURES Editor's Babblenest

President's Message

Betta falx

The Eternal Moonbeam

Something Fishy About SCRABBLE® . . . . . . . . 7 Inside with the Experts of the GCAS Focus on Our Youth

....... 9 11

Wet Leaves (Book Review)

. 13

Looking Through The Lens

NEC Delegate's Report

Photos From Our Last Meeting

Are We All In The Same Hobby?

G.C.A.S. Happenings

Fin Fun (Puzzle Page)

Articles submitted for consideration in MODERN AQUARIUM must be received no later than the 10th day of the month, three months prior to the month of publication. Copyright 2004 by the Greater City Aquarium Society Inc., a not-for-profit New York State corporation. All rights reserved. Not-for-profit aquarium societies are hereby granted permission to reproduce articles and illustrations from this publication, unless the article indicates that the copyrights have been retained by the author, and provided reprints indicate source and two copies of the publication are sent to the Exchange Editor of this magazine. Any other reproduction or commercial use of the material in this publication is prohibited without sxpress written prior permission. The Greater City Aquarium Society meets every month, except during July and August. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month and begin at 8:00 P.M. Meetings are held at the Queens Botanical Gardens. For more information, contact: Joe Ferdenzi (718)767-2691. You can also leave us a message at our Internet Home Page at: http: //ourworld. CompuServe . com/homepages/greatercity

by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST efore I write anything else, I want to thank Joe Ferdenzi, and the GCAS Board, for electing my wife, Susan, and me to the Roll of Honor, which is the highest award Greater City presents to any member. Sue and I are especially happy to be the first recipients of this award since it was renamed the "Joseph Ferdenzi Roll of Honor." Next, I want to announce some special issues of Modern Aquarium planned for the near future. Next month (March), I hope to produce a special theme issue on Fish Nutrition. I would welcome any articles, of any length, on fish food. This would include recipes for "homemade paste food," instructions for keeping and using various live foods, and any information you can share on feeding "picky eaters." Regardless of what kinds of fish we keep or specialize in, whether it's guppies, discus, bettas, cichlids, anabantoids, catfish, etc., they have one thing in common: they all have to eat; and if we want them to prosper (and hopefully reproduce) in our home aquaria, their nutritional needs must be met. For May, I am planning a "Conservation and Endangered Species" issue. This is a personal bias of mine, and I really hope some of our members will rise to the occasion and contribute. Basically, my premise is that the aquarium hobby has a "bum rap" when it comes to conservation. More environmental damage has been done by governments around the world (in attempting to control "problem" species, providing "food fish" to native populations, or "game fish" for tourists and local "sportsmen"), or by accident (seeds and eggs carried by pleasure or tour boats from one region to another), than by the aquarium

hobby. But, rather than pointing fingers, 1 believe that there is something hobbyists can do to help solve the problem. This issue will be focused on that. If you know that you are keeping (or have kept) an endangered species, PLEASE contact me about writing even a brief article about your experience. We aquarists like to talk about passing our hobby on to the "next generation." But, what if there are no fish to "pass on"? Finally, for the last issue of Modern Aquarium before our summer "break" (our June issue), I would like to have an issue devoted to the history of the hobby. This issue will be in conjunction with the visit to the GCAS of Dr. Albert J. Klee, a noted historian of the aquarium hobby (and author of the highly regarded book: The Toy Fish. A History of the Aquarium Hobby in America - The First 100 Years). If anyone reading this was a member of a now-defunct aquarium society (such as the Bronx Aquarium Society, which used to meet not more than a mile away from where I now live), and can write a very brief description of what it was like; or if anyone reading this has "antique" or "vintage" aquarium equipment that he or she can photograph and send to me for this issue, or can provide any other "historical perspective" on this aquarium hobby of ours, I would be very grateful. By the time you read this, the Modern Aquarium submissions for the 2003 Federation of American Aquarium Societies ("FAAS") Publication Awards will have been sent out. Every article you write for Modern Aquarium can be considered for a FAAS award, as well as an award from the Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies (the "NEC"), which will announce its 2003 Publication Awards at its annual weekend convention, on March 19 to 21, this year. (See the article in this issue by Greater City's NEC Delegate, Claudia Dickinson, about the NEC convention for more details.) And, regardless of whether your article wins an award from FAAS and/or the NEC, it will still get you points (and chances in our exclusive Author Award Raffle) at the end of the year. Yes, this is another blatant appeal for articles, but when you contribute articles to Modern Aquarium, you contribute to your society, as well.

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

President's Message by JOSEPH FERDENZi would rate last month's Holiday Party as a "smashing success," literally and figuratively. Yes, it was quite an event. Pat and Susan Coushaine generously catered the entire affair. Their efforts were supplemented by the many members who brought various tasty desserts to the party. The food was so plentiful that, by the end, people were walking out with "doggie bags" (even if they only owned fish!). Thanks to generous manufacturers like Wardley and Tetra, we had some very exciting raffle prizes. Practically everyone took home a prize. The members bought many tickets, no doubt in large part due to the charms of our young sellers, Victoria Bohme (daughter of Tom), AH Feuer (daughter of Warren), and Danielle Soberman (daughter of Mark). These three young ladies were absolutely delightful, and of great help to me at the meeting. Speaking of Warren Feuer, he made sure that the numerous raffle prizes were there to begin with. He corresponded with the companies, cataloged their donations, and then brought a share of the donations to the meeting. A job well done! Another highlight of the meeting was the distribution of the 100th consecutive issue of Modern Aquarium, Series III. This was yet another milestone for our award-winning magazine, which is currently under the able editorship of Al Priest, with the priceless support of his spouse, Susan. Al also produced a beautiful GCAS pocket calendar for each member, complete with a plastic cover and a back page highlighting upcoming GCAS events. In addition, he created the very professional certificates for the Author Award Program, that were distributed at the party. Of course, no meeting would be a GCAS affair without the flair contributed by our ever irrepressible Claudia Dickinson (who is wonderfully supported by her charming spouse,

;. ^ iciuuui nut oniy suppneu a ocamiiui UOOK for the monthly "door prize," but she created wonderful souvenir gifts for each member — a miniature "aquarium" of a fish shaped candle in a votive glass vase, complete with gravel, and glass ornaments. What other club has anyone like Claudia? She is, in a word, irreplaceable. The literal "smashing" part of the party came in the form of a handmade piiiata in the shape of a goldfish. This large and exquisitely made pinata was the work of Priscilla Rosa and Jannette Ramirez. After the awards ceremony, our three young attendees — Victoria, Ali, and Danielle — took turns whacking our paper mache goldfish. When they finally managed to disgorge its contents, it was a delight to behold! Priscilla and Jannette had creatively and generously filled it with all sorts of candies and "tropical fish" inspired prizes, including lollipops in the shape offish, fish pens, fish bookmarks, and all sorts of items intended to please any multitude of youngsters (and even some old-timers, like me!). Of course, forme, one of the highlights of the annual party is the presentation of the GCAS awards. I take great pride in recognizing all the people who have contributed greatly to making GCAS one of the preeminent clubs in America. I wish I could have seen the look on Sue and Al Priest's faces when I announced that they had been elected to the GCAS Roll of Honor, but, unfortunately, they were standing a little bit behind me as I was addressing the audience. Of course, they had no idea what I was about to announce because everyone on the Board had kept it a secret. The fact that this honor is even listed in the 100th issue (January 2004) of Modern Aquarium is a considerable feat, since it had to be achieved after the master copy of the issue left the hands of Editor Al, and was accomplished through the considerable skills of its Art Director and Printer, Jason Kerner. The GCAS Holiday Party was full of mirth and good cheer. It exemplified what our club is all about: friendship and generosity. Once again, I must reiterate how proud you all make me, and what an honor it is to be your President. A

The Jersey Shore Aquarium Society Presents its Jersev/JShore Tropical Fish and Dry Goods Auction Aguanum£/Soaety Sunday, March 14, 2004 ^ First Aid Squad Building • 18 Spring St. • Freehold, NJ Auction starts at noon • Free admission ($2.00 bidder fee) For more information call (732)625-1920 website: http://www.jerseyshoreas.org Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

AN UNUSUAL AND DlfFSRENT MOUTH8ROODER:

SiTTA FALX by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST

(GH) often or less, and a temperature between 72° and 76° F (22°-24° C) is sufficient. I usually add blackwater extract to the soft, neutral tapwater of New York City to lower the pH in my Bettafalx tank, and the fish seem to do quite well with that. While you can use gravel, I have never had success with breeding mouthbrooding bettas in tanks with a gravel substrate. However, a tank for Bettafalx should have caves, and lots of plants, as the fish like to hide (and spawn) among them. Description Bettafalx is a small fish. Adults barely As this is a member of the genus Betta, reach 1V^ in length (less than 4cm). The species you probably already know that it has a labyrinth name "falx" is organ in its head Latin for "scythe." that allows it to This refers to the store and utilize Scientific name: Bettafalx continuous curved atmospheric air, Native habitat: Malaysia shape of the broad instead of solely (Jambi and Medan in Sumatra) anal and caudal relying on its gills Adult length: I'/i" Water chemistry: soft, acidic for respiration. This distal margins of a Water temperature: 72° to 76° F male in display. means that it does Reproduction: Paternal mouthbrooder not require highly But, except for a Nutrition: Omnivorous (live foods for breeding) male in spawning oxygenated water, Temperament: Generally peaceful and so filtration that display, the fish is (males become territorial when spawning) relatively drab in creates agitation at appearance. Betta the water's surface falx is considered to facilitate aeration to be in the "Picta Complex," which consists of is not a requirement for these fish. However, the labyrinth organ of mouthbrooders, such as Betta B. picta, B. taeniata, B simplex, and B. falx. Members of the "Picta Complex" share certain falx, differs from those of the bubblenesters, in that common characteristics, in that they all have dark in mouthbrooders, the organ is more compact, and pigmentation on the extreme edge of the caudal is used less frequently. The reason is that bubblenesters inhabit warmer water, that is more and anal fins, iridescent gill covers, and they are all oxygen-poor. Because of this, bubblenesters must relatively small as adults. make more frequent trips to the surface (thus, The body of Betta falx is relatively making more use of their labyrinth organ) than do thinner, with a narrower profile of the head, than mouthbrooders, such as Bettafalx. that of Betta picta. It also has fewer lateral scales than that of Betta picta (27 vs. 21 to 30), and adult males lack a median caudal fin extension. Betta Temperament This is a very shy fish, that spends most of falx has blue bands in its anal and caudal fins, its time in seclusion, except when engaged in while Betta picta has red bands. In addition, Betta courtship, spawning, or eating. Except for males picta is found in hill streams, while Bettafalx is defending their territories, there is very little found in lowland swamp forests. observed aggression among the fish, even in relatively small tanks. Water and Tank Conditions For breeding purposes, Betta falx Betta falx is found in nature among submerged bank vegetation, in nearly stagnant probably should be kept in a species tank that has caves and plants. They can easily also be part of a waters having an acidic pH between 4.7 and 6.8, and at a temperature between 22° and 31.5° C. In peaceful regional biotope aquarium with tankmates the home aquarium, slightly soft water, with a pH such as Licorice Gouramis (Parosphromenus sp.\r Croaking Gouramis (Trie hop ranging between 6 to 6.5, and a general hardness he fish now called Bettafalx is native to the Jambi Province of Sumatra, in the center of that island (which is the westernmost island in Indonesia, adjacent to the Malaysian peninsula), and it has also been found in the north of the island, in an area called Medan. It has just recently been recognized as a species (previously, it was considered to be a regional variant of Betta picta).

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

after his brooding duties are over. Remember, the male was not able to eat for over a week while his mouth was full of eggs and fry. There are breeders' reports of males apparently dying of exhaustion and malnutrition caused by repeated and uninterrupted spawnings. Once released by the male, the fry are miniature replicas of the adults, and sufficiently Breeding This fish is a paternal mouthbrooder (this large enough to accept baby brine shrimp and means the male holds the fertilized eggs in his niicroworms. The male will make no further attempts to shelter the fry within his mouth after buccal pouch until they hatch and are able to they are free-swimming. swim). As is typical of mouthbrooding bettas, the While this is generally a shy and peaceful female is the one that initiates the spawning. She selects a male to mate with, and the pair (after fish, adult males can become territorial at spawning time; so the number of adult males you can safely some courting dances that can last several hours) will embrace, and eggs are released. The female keep in one tank depends on the size of the tank, and whether it has sufficient vegetation, rocks, or then picks up the eggs and "tosses" them to the other ornamentation male, who puts them in his mouth to provide distinct for incubation. territories for each Although male to defend. I always provide this is a fairly small fish, the eggs are numerous caves in tanks for betta relatively large. So, ^ fK the number of eggs mouthbrooders, as the males seem to the male can hold prefer to use them in his mouth at one while they are time (and thus, the number of fry from incubating the eggs. each spawning) is Betta falx spawns at, or near, the small. Once all the bottom of the tank. eggs that the male There is a can h o l d are school of thought transferred to his Sumatra which holds that buccal pouch (you brooding is an might see some evolutionary "leftovers" on the reaction to the fish bottom of the tank), . . , f Native habitat of Bettafalx J moving into (or the female often finding itself in) stays around the faster moving waters, where bubblenesting is not brooding site, and seems to protect her mate until feasible, and so faster moving water is more the fry are released. The eggs hatch in about three appropriate for the home aquarium. Another days, and free-swimming fry are released from the school holds that mouthbrooding is a reaction to male's mouth about a week or so after that. predation, and, except for riverine species, more Once the fry are released, the parents provide no parental care. As long as the parents gentle water movement can be used. I have always had better success with betta mouthbrooders using are well-fed, they will not harm the fry. While the sponge and box filters (i.e., fairly slow water fry can be raised in the same tank as the adults, it movement), but I know other aquarists who have is prudent to remove the female right after spawning has occurred, and to remove the male experienced exactly opposite results. The bottom line appears to be: try both, and once one method (and separate him from the female) once he works with a particular batch of fish, then stick releases the fry. First of all, without the waste with it. produced by the parents, it is easier to maintain high water quality for the fry. Second, the parents Health and Nutrition should be separated from each other for a while Bettafalx is also a relatively hardy and because the female will usually attempt to spawn generally disease-free fish. However, it is prone to with the male again. This should not be allowed to the parasitic infestations that can cause happen, as the male needs a week or two of rest gouramis generally occupy the upper part of the tank (while Bettafalx usually stays at, or near, the bottom), and all of these fish have somewhat sim ilar water requirements. However, care must be taken to provide sufficient space and hiding places for each species in such a community setting.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

Ichthyophthirius multifilis O'Ick" or "White Spot Disease") and Oodinlum limneticum ("Velvet" or "Rust Disease"), if water conditions deteriorate. These fish will usually accept any food (live or prepared), darting out to grab it, and darting back into hiding to eat. But, if you want to induce spawning, then live foods are almost a requirement. I feed my B. falx live adult brineshrimp and blackworms to condition them for spawning. While they will eat the frozen variety, it is with considerably less "gusto," and with a lot more uneaten food for me to clean up later. Historical Perspective Before 1998, Belt a picta (one of the earliest Betta species to have been scientifically described) was thought to have two primary regional variants: Betta picta "Java," and Betta picta "Sumatra" (sometimes called Betta picta "Jambi"). In 1998, Heok Hui Tan and Maurice Kottelat published an article in Revue Suisse de Zoologie (Swiss Review of Zoology) titled, "Redescription of Betta picta (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) and description of B. falx sp. n.

from central Sumatra." That article established Betta picta "Sumatra" (or "Jambi") as the separate species Betta falx (and so, Betta picta "Java" became just plain Betta picta). Bibliography: Goldstein, Robert J. Bettas, Barrens Educational Series, Inc., 2001 Griffin, Gerald. "Care and Breeding of Betta falx, Flare! (Journal of the International Betta Congress), December 2002. Dantec, Michael and Dumas, Dominique, editors. "The Betta picta Bleeker, 1850" originally printed in Le Macropode, the Journal of Communaute Internationale pour les Labyrinth ides (the International Community for Labyrinths), November 2002, and reprinted in the January and April 2003 issues of Qsphronemid, the journal of the International Anabantoid Association (IAA) (translation by M. Janson & F. Van den Bergh).

The Eternal by CLAUDIA DICKINSON

Once I wrote about a moonbeam... And now it still holds true... For if you are not with us... In spirit it is not so... We shall always look forward to the day that you walk through that door... But for now look up at the moon tonight... And you will find that our hearts will be shining down on you! As always, only a Moonbeam away ..... Love, The GCAS

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

word K O L I. laughed to myself not really thinking it would be in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, but with over 100,000 words, it just might be there. So, I played it. The right eyebrow of my opponent raised almost the second my letter "I" hit the board, and "You got to be kidding" crossed his lips as he reached for the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary. I didn't exhale until he hoarsely whispered, "It's good." His eyes were blinking in disbelief I had earned my points, as well as the next turn. The "I" from KOI was sitting right over the 'triple word" score space, so 1 layed down the word V I G I L , and won the game! That got me wondering just how many words, common to us aquarists, are playable words according to the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary. Just dealing with water, there's AQUA, AQUARIA, AQUARIST, AQUARIUM, AQUARIAL, and AQUATIC. Since KOI was challenged, I was wondering how many other names of fishes I could find. At this point, I refer

appear the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary. You'll also find more than just the names of fish that you can use. You can use the names of their fins too, like CAUDAL, DORSAL, PECTORAL, VENTRAL, and ANAL. There's a whole slew of aquarium-related words, which most of us know, and that our dry-fingered adversaries would have very little idea about. Try to perplex them with words like: NITRITE, NITRATE, OSMOSIS, KRILL, ICH, CABOMBA, DUCKWEED, WISTERIA, and two of my favorites: TUBIFEX and DETRITUS. You can even use the word ICH on one turn, and then add a "C" to the front of it and "LID" to the end, and turn it into CICHLID. If the fish fanciers take up serious SCRABBLE®-playing, and use the concepts outlined in this article, don't be surprised to hear the new SCRABBLE® Grand Champion telling the world, "I owe it all to my fifth grade teacher, my wife, and the fishtanks in my basement." Viva la-quarium!

SCR$BBl£ word List ACRYLIC ACTINIC AERATE ALGAE AMMONIA ANEMONE ANEUS AQUA AQUARIA AQUARIAN AQUARIST AQUARIUM AQUATIC BARB BATFISH BETTA BLENNY BLOODFIN BOXFISH BRACKISH BRINE CABOMBA CARBON CATFISH CAUDAL CHARACIN CHROMIDE CICHLID CONCH CONCHA

COOLIE CORAL CORY COWRY CRAB CRAWFISH CRAYFISH DAMSEL DANIO DAPHNIA DETRITUS DIFFUSER DISCUS DORSAL DOSING DRAGONET DUCKWEED EEL FERN FILEFISH FILTER FLOSS GILL GOBY GOLDFISH GOURAMI GRAVEL GUPPY HALIDE HOGFISH

HYDRA ICH JAVA KELVIN KILLIE KOI KRILL LIONFISH LOACH LOBSTER LUNGFISH MINNOW MOLLIE MOLLY MORAY MUSSEL NARE NITRATE NITRITE OCTOPUS OSMOSIS PANCHAX PECTORAL PIPEFISH PIRANHA PLATY PLENUM POROUS PUFFER RASBORA

February 2004

REFUGIUM ROCKFISH ROE ROTIFER SALINITY SCALLOP SCAT SEASHELL SHARK SHRIMP SILICONS SKATE SNAIL SPONGE SQUID STARFISH STINGRAY SUMP SUNFISH TANG TETRA TILAPIA TRIGGER TUBIFEX URCHIN VENTRAL VENTURI WISTERIA WRASSE XENIA

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

"INSIDE WITH THE EXPERTS" OF THE

G.C.A.S. Moderator a

Expert Panelists J

c^ckiizin, canton ^ l/ukian

& J

Technical Advisor Technical Production a When you are setting up a new tank, feeding your fish, and doing water changes; or when your fish are breeding, you are doing your best to hatch the eggs successfully, and raise the fry to adulthood, what is the foremost question that enters your mind that you would love to have the answer for? That is our question of the evening, and this is the golden opportunity that we all look forward to each year, as we convene for our annual "Inside with the Experts" of the GCAS! This is our chance to ask, discuss and find answers for some of the "mysteries" of fishkeeping that may turn out not to be so mysterious after all, but adeptly resolved through the years of experience, along with the trials and errors that our panel brings to us tonight. Their insight and wisdom is here to be shared with all of us, and I know for certain that there are many of you who will be able to add some thoughts of your own to help in answering our questions as well! We are so proud and honored to welcome our panelists tonight, and are most appreciative of the time and the efforts that they have made in making this evening immensely beneficial and enjoyable!

Ginny Eckstein: Ginny Eckstein is a truly celebrated lady in the aquarium world, and her much-deserved fame reaches far and wide. It would not be possible to fit all of Ginny 's achievements into one paragraph, but I will name a select few. First of all, there is Charlie, Ginny 's wonderful and endearing husband. Naturally, Ginny stands out brilliantly on her own, but together, Ginny and Charlie make up a most special team! Ginny 's aquariums, which were kept in the basement, totaled over 4,000 gallons of water, and housed almost every species offish imaginable. If it was a fish, Ginny had to have it, and not only have it, but to learn all there was to know about it, and then proceed to make certain she had a pair (for, as Ginny will tell you ~ "first you have to have a pair!" Ginny has taught me so much!), and then go one step further and have that pair reproduce in her tanks. In fact, Ginny was our first recipient of the GCAS Don Sanford Breeder of the Year Award in 198 1~'82, and won the award again the next year, in 1982-' 83 ! Ginny also holds the title of Senior Master Breeder, in both the Long Island Aquarium Society, and the Nassau Aquarium Society. Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

fishkeeping is surely no exception, as so many over the years have looked to her for those famed words of wisdom in her column that ran in "Aquarium Fish Magazine" from 1989-'97, entitled "Catfish in Depth. " There is so much more, but aside from all of this, Ginny is truly a most dear and special lady, and one that I am most proud to have as my friend!

Anton Vukich: Anton Vukich needs little introduction, as he towers over the GCAS as one of our leading ***Stars!!!***, certainly not only in height, but in wisdom and merit, as well as with his stunningly beautiful fish! As Anton began to count the gallons of water of the tanks in his fishroom, the number just kept growing, and before we knew it, Anton had reached 1600 gallons, with approximately 50 aquariums! These range in size from the smaller 5 and 10 gallon tanks, many medium 20, 30 and 40 gallon tanks, and then up through the larger sizes, to his largest, at 150 gallons. It is in within these tanks that Anton exemplifies oneness with his fish, as they are exquisite and most certainly prolific, the results of which we have the great fortune of the opportunity of adding to our own tanks, through his most generous monthly donations to our auctions! The talented and studious linebreeding of Koi Angelfish, as well as German Blue Angelfish, which make up one of Anton's major focuses, take up a great deal of the larger tanks in Anton's fishroom, as these lovely creatures are most productive here. Killifish are another one of the major focuses in Anton's fishroom, with a great number of the smaller tanks being devoted to these. Anton is noted for his skill and knowledge in the breeding of these fish, as well as the hatching of the eggs and the raising of the fry, the methods of which are vast and varied within this group. An assortment of other fish, such as livebearers, catfish, and five or six species of Julidochromis inhabit the remainder of Anton's tanks. For his major breeding achievements, Anton was presented with the Don Sanford Breeder of the Year Award for this past season, as well as reaching the level of Advanced Breeder. He has also reached the Advanced Breeder Level at the Norwalk Aquarium Society. Anton's smile lights up our meetings, and his kindness and generosity matches his wealth of insight and knowledge!

Joseph

Graffagnino:

Joe Graffagnino is also one of our leading GCAS ***Stars! !!***, known throughout the northeast for his aquaristic skills, his exceptional fish and his kindhearted nature, forever ready to offer his wisdom and a helping hand. Whether it be assisting with a showfish, or lending thoughts and advice on aquarium husbandry, Joe is right there, ready and happy to give his assistance. Involved in the hobby for over 30 years, Joe has 14 tanks, two of which hold 180 gallons of water, and the remainder consisting of 20,30 and 40 gallons. Most of the inhabitants of Joe's aquariums are African Cichlids and catfish, with the majority of the African Cichlids being from Lake Malawi. Some West African Cichlids are kept as well. All aquariums are maintained as community tanks, so Joe is certainly the person to ask if you have questions on your "community mixes" at home! Within his catfish, Joe has a penchant toward Synodontis, with several different species of these, including breeding pairs of S. multipunctatus. Other catfish include Tatia and Hoplosternum. Joe is an avid and eloquent writer, with his works having been published in the Modern Aquarium, Aquatica and Chit Chat, the latter being a catfish publication, that is produced by Ian Fuller. He has achieved Breeder of the Year for the years 2000 and 2003 at the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, where he currently serves as the Corresponding Secretary. Joe is a superb hobbyist and such a very special person, who we all have the good fortune to have as a part of the GCAS! It is with great pride and warmth that we welcome Ginny, Anton and Joe tonight, and we thank them for this very special treat!

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Focus on our Youth... and on our Fish Today's Dreams..... Tomorrow's Promises Photos and Text by CLAUDIA DICKINSON

Yesterday's Children Today's Children I am certain that all of us recall that first The fascination of computers and DVD's, time in our young lives when we were enthralled cable TV and MTV, Nintendo and compact discs, fills the lives of our young people today. We know by an aquarium, whose inhabitants beckoned to us, and held us in awe by the mystique of their from our own busy schedules, that life just seems to become fuller than ever, and certainly more exquisite colors, and by their vast and varied shapes, sizes and hues. The very wonder of the hectic, if we allow that to happen. The roses are mounds of gravel or out there, but the aroma sand, with the plants " , ÂŤ needs to be permeating the air, in order for us to that swayed through ^mm^m&M^^.,.,. the bubbles of the box ^ be reminded to catch a filter, in front of a hint of a scent, as we rush background of swirly, by. colorful aluminum foil. And even the Today's Fish Chemicals, run-off, wonderful aroma of an aquarium was a n a e r o b i c pocket s, pollutants, diedeliciously heady, and off.....death rests in the back of At risk, in peril, one's mind to be picked up in a endangered extinct nostalgic moment. How sad..... Hobbyists Kristina Schwehr, Shona Carman, and Tomorrow's Promises Yesterday's Fish Megan Farnham of the Montauk Public School. What more The fish and perfect a time, as there other aquatic creatures will be no other, to walk of four or more decades hand-in-hand with our ago were, unbeknownst youth, and show them to them, swimming in our fish tanks, show their glorious heyday. them our fishrooms, and Their natural habitats arrange to place a tank in were rich with their schools. The bountiful supplies of clean food and water, mystical allure of that first aquarium is surely as Nature had given to ubiquitous, and shall them millions of years never ebb, for the young, ago, and intended for or the young-at-heart. them to continue to We just need to take that flourish and proliferate in, if left to their own Enthusiastic young hobbyists of the "Pet Club," moment to smell the destiny. The rain that along with instructor Todd Brunn at the Montauk roses together For fell was pure and fresh, Public School. this will ensure the and the earth was lush future of both our with minerals and insects. children, and our fish ~ the rewards will be certain to last much longer than a lifetime! Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

i ins is De-cause Dreams Coming True T F H is 1 o o k i n g The me Id Ing of f o r . . . y o u ! . . , o r . . .the our youth and our fish GCAS, as a group (what are perfectly fun!!!) to act as a mentor exemplified through in setting up and such programs as the maintaining an aquarium Aqua Havens for in a classroom that has Education Aquatic an interested teacher. Research Center, All you need to do to created through the u embark on this exciting ingenious efforts and ^ venture is to e-mail: boundless energies of i editor@tfh.com, instructor Bob Keddell, with the subject line: and the innovative MENTOR. "Tank P l a c e m e n t Please take a Program," initiated and walk, or a drive, to your administered by TFH local school, and invite Publications, and its the teachers to join in Editor-in-Chief, David t h i s w o n d e r f u 1, Boruchowitz. I have educational opportunity. had the good fortune of All they need to do is to working with the Aqua e-mail: editor@tfh.com, Havens for Education with the subject line: Aquatic R e s e a r c h Sixth Grade Science teacher, Todd Brunn, and TANK PLACEMENT Center through their his "Pet Club" students, in front of the INFO. partnership with the Montauk Public School in Montauk, NY. Should you ACA, in a mentoring know of a manufacturer program between the students and our members. or retailer who would like to participate as well, by Todd Brunn, the 6th grade science teacher donating merchandise or livestock, please ask them at the Montauk Public School, in Montauk, N.Y., to e-mail: editor@tfh.com, with the subject line: along with his students, as well as Douglas Patac, P L A C E M E N T our GCAS guest DONATIONS. speaker last November, What a Grande also perfectly illustrate time we would have, the benefits to both our and how rewarding an youth and our fish. experience, for the In the coming GCAS to act as a group months, within these mentor for a school! pages, I will be bringing Please see me if you you highlights from the would like to be a part classrooms and the of this, for together we s t u d e n t s of Bob can make it happen! Keddell, Todd Brunn Moreover, and others, who are The Aqua Havens For Education Student Research please let me know of tomorrow's promises, Team in their lab coats at The Wilde Lake Middle schools in your area making today's dreams who already have an come true aquarium in their "Tropical Fish Hobbyist" Tank Placement classrooms, or who are planning to do so. They, Program too, can be a feature within these pages! In the meantime, "TFH" has been hard at Let's take the hands of our young people, work, making plans for donations of livestock and and those of each other, and stop for a equipment, in order that any elementary or middle moment and smell the roses, while we are still school teacher who would like to have an aquarium able..... in their classroom, will have one available to them. The teacher may, or may not, wish to become involved with the tank. They may, or may not, have had past experience with an aquarium.

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Part two describes 18 different "Aquarium Displays." There are rivers and streams, lakes and swamps, caves and rainforests, Whitewater and acid pools, to choose from. The best way for me to illustrate what you can expect to find is to choose one and examine it in some detail for you. Sooo . . . A Series On Books For The Hobbyist I have chosen the "Indian River by SUSAN PRIEST Aquarium." Why? It was pure and simply a personal attraction to the featured fishes. An re any of you longing for a winter vacation in aquarium with the frenetic energy of danios, the a far-away destination, but your boss has graceful style of gouramis, the mischievous antics other ideas? Well, I have found the next-best of loaches, and, most irresistible of all, a knifefish thing for you. A trip through the pages of this book (something which I have never kept) was calling will take you to many far-away, tropical locations, and my name. all in the space of "275 color photographs, 23 maps, The author builds your expectations as, and 60,000 words." piece by piece, each element of the design is This author has divided his text into two introduced. He starts out with a photo of the parts. He calls part one the "Practical Section." It Ramganga River and its associated riverbed, as contains seven chapters, one of which is his well as a map of India which is marked as to where introduction. They cover a lot of territory in between similar waterways exist in "How Fishes Live," and nature. Next, he suggests Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature "Planning an Aquarium." I some lime-free gravel as a especially liked the sub-topic by Peter Hiscoek good planting medium, called "The World of Water." Barren's 2003 topped off with pea-gravel It highlights the continental to simulate the look of a areas of the planet earth, and riverbed. For plants, he chooses a Qyptocoiyne briefly discusses not only which types of fishes each undulata, for its contrasting green leaves and area supports, but why. brown stems, and a Nymphaea lotus (tiger lotus), As I prepare to move you on to part two, which reminds me of a terrestrial geranium. Next, "Aquarium Displays," I want to mention a couple of driftwood roots; the more twisted, the better. Then things which this book is not. First, it is not a primer come the aforementioned fishes. on the setting-up and care of aquariums. Second, it Finally, everything is ready to be does not provide specific information on the combined, and you hold your breath wherever it husbandry of tropical fish. might be at the time (in, out, or somewhere in The thing this book does best is provide the between) as you turn the page. What should be the reader with an assortment of ideas to help him or her most gratifying of moments leaves you searching achieve a variety of different visual effects, with the (in vain) for . . . the fishes! The one great emphasis on being able to simulate "real world shortcoming of this book is that the completed environments." Here are a few examples: aquarium displays only the design elements. The 0 Use of a "gravel tidy." This is simply a fishes are the reason for putting all of this together sheet of plastic mesh. The most commonly in the first place, and they are not in the picture! recommended use is to keep a layer of pebble-grade In spite of this flaw, I have no gravel suspended on top of a layer of sand or soil reservations about recommending the book. I beneath it. would like to comment that I consider this B Raised "planting beds" (the construction hardcovered book, with color photography of which is described) allow shorter plants to be used throughout, to be conservatively priced, with a in the background. suggested retail value of $27.00. (I actually paid B Freshwater mussels are suggested as less than this.) I would also like to add that the interesting tank inhabitants. As they are filter-feeders, charm of these designs will come from the they may need to be fed; small frozen plankton-based uniqueness of each individual rock, plant and fish, foods sold for marine aquariums are ideal. and will make your version of any given design a The photo credits very often serve as a one-of-a-kind creation. As we all know, Mother source of useful suggestions, such as: Nature never does the same thing more than once! B The description under the photograph of a plant called "Echinodorus 'Rose' " says that" it will develop a deep-reddish color if provided with bright light and plenty of nutrients."

WET LEAVES

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

News From:

The Northeast Council Of Aquarium Societies by CLAUDIA DICKINSON

NEC 29th Annual Convention! Whatever your fancy ~ be it the zany Groucho Marx, or the steamy-eyed Greta Garbo, the heart-throbbing, romantically entwined Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, the flamboyantly flaming passion of Scarlett and Rhett, the amicable antics of Mo, Curly and Larry, the prehistoric, futuristic humour of Wilma and Fred, or the snorting sagaciousness of Mr. Ed (Mr. Ed?!?!?!?) ~ your fantasies are about to come alive, as the NEC Annual Convention is almost upon us, and the theme this year is "TV and Movie Characters!" But, do you have to dress up? like a horse? Certainly not ~ it would be great fun if you did, but just come as yourself, if you like. But please, however you do, you won't want to miss out on the fun to be had March 19th - 21st' as the NEC hosts the 29th Annual Convention, held at the lovely Hartford Marriott in Farmington, Connecticut! The speaker line-up alone is enough to catch your breath, as the distinguished Dr. Stan Weitzman shares his legendary insight of "Tetras," Ivan Dibble travels from England to bring us his infinite knowledge of "Livebearers, " Scott Michael treats us to his program on "Saltwater Fish " and Robert Di Marco journeys south from Canada with his presentation of "Raising Nemo" We will have the great fortune of Mike Hellweg joining us from Missouri to impart the keys to success in "Breeding Fish, " Jaap Jan DeGreef speaking on "Collecting Wild Fish " and Craig Morfitt flying in from Bermuda to tell us about "Lake Malawi. " Gary Elson will bring us the world of "Dwarf Cichlids, " the ever-charming and illustrious Lee Finley will share his wealth of wisdom on "Catfish " and Wayne Leibel is certain to bring his celebrated brilliance to Saturday evening as our Banquet MCI Plan to come for one day, or all three, as the non-stop gala begins on Friday afternoon with registration and the Aquatic Gardener's Association (AGA) meeting, followed by a most informative workshop, keeping with the current issues, entitled "Bringing Our Hobby to Our Schools. " This most enlightening session will be presented by two of our past GCAS guest speakers, Karen Randall and Doug Patac. Karen reveals her story of how volunteering to set up aquariums in the classrooms of her own children rapidly led her to a much broader arena, as she was soon setting up

aquariums throughout and beyond the school district, as well as speaking to teacher associations. Doug brings his experiences of integrating fishkeeping into his daily lessons as a teacher in Harlem, NY. Our children are our past, our present and our future. The school boards, principals, and area teachers that have been personally invited to this program, as well as ourselves and our fish, will all profit immensely from this timely topic. The celebration will continue, as Friday evening and Saturday are filled with speakers, vendors, raffles, the Awards Banquet, and the greatest camaraderie and melding of friends, fish and fun! Sunday is the hugest Auction, as you've never seen before, and surely not to be missed, accompanied by the warmth of more friends, fish and fun! You will surely find your fishy dreams this year as the Rare and Endangered Fish Silent Auction will hold lots of surprises, with all proceeds going towards "Fish Ark Mexico." This undertaking of conservation and education, assisting the endangered livebearers of Mexico, has been championed by Ivan Dibble, who will be on the scene, and happy to tell you more about the endeavor. You may view the selection offish to be auctioned in the vendor room, and place your bids. The bidding will end at 1:00 pm on Sunday, so please bid often and bid high to ensure the future of our fish, both in the wild and in our home aquariums! Should you have your own "unusual donations" to make, please contact David Banks at dbanks@together.net or by phone: 802-372-8716. Please take note of the exciting new revisions and benefits of Early Registration this year! All registrations postmarked by February 25th will be eligible for the innovative "Special Package," which you will surely want to take advantage of! You will receive an $85 value, for only $70, which includes one registration, one banquet ticket, one t-shirt and ten dollars of raffle tickets! As a member of the NEC, postmarking your entry by the early registration date of February 25th also entitles you to the new "Family Registration," which includes registration for all family members in the same household. Your highly coveted NEC Convention flyer will explain all of this in detail, and should you need more information, you may visit the website at

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

In the meantime, let's check in with the NEC Calendar of Events, as it is filling up rapidly!: February 8th: Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society Auction. February 29th: Exotic Fish Society of Hartford Annual Auction, March 7th: NEC General Meeting in Hartford. March 19th ~ 21st; NEC Annual Convention! March 21st: Tropical Fish Society of Rhode Island Annual Buck-a-Bag Auction, May 2nd: North Jersey Aquarium Society Annual Auction. May 14th: Brooklyn Aquarium Society Marine Auction. May 16th: Aqualand Aquarium Society Annual Auction. May 21st ~ 22nd: Greater City Aquarium Society Biennial Show and Auction! June 6th: NEC General Meeting/Elections. September (TBA): Tropical Fish Society of Rhode Island Show & Auction. September (TBA): Danbury Aquarium Society Annual Auction. September 26th: NEC General Meeting. October 2nd ~ 3rd: Norwalk Aquarium Society Show & Auction. October (TBA): Monadnock Region Aquarium Society Annual Auction. October (TBA): Long Island Aquarium Society Annual Auction. October (TBA): North Jersey Aquarium Society Annual Show & Auction. November 7th: Boston Aquarium Society Auction. December 5th: NEC General Meeting.

www.northeastcouncil.org, or contact your most gracious and efficient NEC Convention Chair, Janine Banks, at dbanks@together.net. Bringing fish to be auctioned on Sunday? You may now bring up to fifteen lots of fish or plants, and those of you who send in your lot listings before March 13th will receive a 60/40 split! You may mail these to David Banks, 315 US Rt 2, Grand Isle, VT 05458, or e-mail them to Dave at his e-mail address previously noted. Whew!!! So much to do, so much to see and so much fun to be had! It shall be a Grande Time, as you've never had before, and I know / can barely wait to see you there!!!

cloaking her in dimness. At this late hour, the room was void of its patrons, the only occupants left being the nightclub owner and the piano player. Dreamy strains of music filled the air, as whispers of smoke from the cigarette dangling off of Rick's lips curled up through the hazy streaks of light cast by the Tiffany shades. Leaning on the edge of the piano, his thoughts were brought to the present as the song rolled to its end, and the room became still. Hands toying with the final chessman that had brought the evening to a close, Rick looked up at the piano player and said "Play it Sam. Play, 'As Time Goes By' " Take Care, have fun and enjoy your fishkeeping!

eyes, deep with passion, watched from under long lashes, as lisa quietly approached the darkened doorway to the smoke-filled bar, its framework casting a shadow over her face and

Keep the date open! Get your fish ready! Get more tanks ready! For the Greater City Aquarium Society's Biennial All-Species Show and Giant Auction !

May 22-23, 2004 Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway Floral Park, NY Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

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• Locally Spawned Fish • Flake Foods • Custom Blended Foods • Brine Shrimp Eggs • Bumper Stickers • And much, much more . cell: 914-374-8073

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February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

American Cichlid Association 2004 Convention ^ MO^ - i ,.: *

/ i^ \d by the Am

the Rocky Mountain Cichlid Association Thursday, July 22, 2004 - Sunday, July 25th, 2004 at the Marriott Southeast, Denver, Colorado Go to http://www.aca2004.com for details

CONVENTION 2004 GST 1971

April 16-18 Holiday Inn West Kalamazoo, MI Go to http://www.livebearers.org for details

All Aquarium Catfish Convention Oct 15-17, 2004 Best Western Maryland Inn 15101 SweitzerLane Laurel, Maryland 20707 Go to http://www.pvas.com/catfish/welcome.htm

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2004

wa rd I ey

BIRDS, REPTILES SMALL ANIMALS TROPICAL & MARINE FISH

HUGE SELECTION OF LIVE ROCK & ALWAYS IN STOCK 1. MARINE FISH & INVERT— - .;• VI

THE PET BARNp FRANKLIN SQUARE'S COMPLETE PET CENTER 212 FRANKLIN AVE FRANKLIN SQUARE, NY 11010 Cprne see our large Aquarium Plant display and receive I ONE FREE cultivated plant, just for stopping by! EXOTIC FRESHWATER FISH AFRICAN CICHLIDS IMPORTED GOLDFISH AND KOI

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Are We All In The Same Hobby? A series by "The Under gravel Reporter'1

In spite of popular demand to the contrary, this humor and information column continues. As usual, it does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of the Editor, or of the Greater City Aquarium Society ometimes, when I read an article, or hear a presentation by another "aquarist," I have to wonder if they are really in the same hobby as I am (which happens to be that of keeping fish). Take, for example, the person who claims to have four or five (or even more) "hospital" and/or "isolation" tanks, or the person who spends more time describing (and fixing up) an "antique" tank than she or he does in describing (or maintaining) the contents of that tank. While collecting glass (or plastic) boxes or similar containers capable of holding water may, in fact, be a legitimate hobby in and of itself, I maintain that such people are "water box collectors," not aquarists. No aquarist worthy of that title that I know of would be able to resist using a "spare" tank for another species. Another example: fish utilize oxygen to live. Whether (as anabantoids or some catfish), they take and use gulps of atmospheric air, or use their gills to extract oxygen from the water, they need oxygen. No fish that I am aware of utilizes carbon dioxide. In fact, if all of the oxygen in and above the water were replaced by carbon dioxide, I can't think of a single species of fish or aquatic invertebrate that would survive for more than a few minutes, if that. Yet, there are people who "inject" carbon dioxide into tanks with fish, in order to enhance the growth of aquatic plants. When one intentionally introduces a gas that is otherwise poisonous to fish into a tank containing fish, can one still call her or himself a "fishkeeper?" There are people who collect a lot of "Breeders Award Points," every time a new fish of theirs spawns. Although we all know that, in most cases, the person owning the fish at the time it spawned has had little to do with the spawning, aquarium societies still give points, certificates,

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

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(as is the case in many, but certainly not all cases) the fishkeeper who receives such points or awards immediately "dumps" the fish onto another person once the fish have spawned (and the BAP points have been credited), only to acquire a different fish for the sole or primary purpose of getting points when that newly acquired fish spawns, is this person really a fishkeeper'? To my way of thinking, a fishkeeper keeps fish, while the person I just described is only interested in keeping fish awards. Speaking offish awards, then there is the person who enters fish show after fish show. In and of itself, there is nothing wrong with a fish show (or with the people who enter fish in such a show). Fish shows allow other aquarists (and the general public) to see prime examples of aquatic life that they might never have known existed before (or that they have only read or heard about). They allow aquarists from different societies to interact, and many lasting friendships have resulted from such interactions. But, what do you call someone who only cares about keeping "Show Quality" fish? By this I mean someone whose primary focus is to win awards at fish shows. For such a person, if a fish is not attractive enough to win an award (either because the species itself is relatively drab in appearance, or because the representatives of that species this person has, or is able to obtain, are not "pretty" enough), then those fish are not kept, and for just those reasons. I'm sure that most of you reading this article can identify at least one person like this, from your own personal experience. So, I ask you, "Is a person whose primary focus is to use fish to win medals and ribbons a fishkeeper, or a "fish-user?" Is such a person a fish hobbyist, or is that person's hobby collecting trophies? As far as I'm concerned, it's the latter (trophy collecting), and not the former (fishkeeping). I know that there will be those who take exception to this month's column. As clearly stated above, this is a humor and opinion column, and has always been so. For those of you who took the time to try to do last month's Modern Aquarium puzzle (the "Fin Fun" page), the correct answer to the question as to which column has appeared in every single issue of Modern Aquarium, Series III to date, is "The Undergravel Reporter." I take the time and effort to put into print my opinions. I know that the Editor of this publication would print (and even welcome) any rebuttal you might have.

February 2004

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February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

G.C.A.S. HAPPENINGS Bowl Show Winners last meeting: Last month was our Holiday Party and Awards Banquet. There was NO Bowl Show. Unofficial 2003-2004 Bowl Show totals to date: Bill Amely: 1 Ipts. Carlotti De Jager: 1 Ipts. Rich Levy: 6pts. Evelyn Eagan: 5pts. Edward Vukich: 3pts.

Welcome back, and thanks, to returning members: Ginny and Charlie Eckstein Welcome to new members: Allison Marston and Dick Moore Last Month's Door Prize Winner: Carlotti De Jasper Here are meeting times and locations of some aquarium societies in the Metropolitan New York area: GREATER CITY AQUARIUM SOCIETY

Brooklyn Aquarium Society

Next meeting: March 3, 2004 Speaker: Tony Pinto Topic: "Thailand 2002 - In Search of Bettas and Other Tropical Fish"

Next Meeting: February 1.3, 2004 Speaker: Joe Graffagnino Topic: "Secrets of a Master Breeder"

8pm: Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main St.; Flushing, NY

7:3Opm Education Hall at the NY Aquarium Surf Avenue at West 8th St.; Brooklyn, NY Call: HAS Events Hotline (718) 837-4455 http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org

Contact: Mr. Joseph Ferdenzi Telephone: (718) 767-2691 e-mail: GreaterCity@compuserve.com http://www.greatercity.org East Coast Guppy Association

Big Apple Guppy Club

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 1st Thursday of each month at the Queens Bqtanical Garden Contact: Gene Raudier Telephone: (631)345-6399

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Thursday of each month at the Queens Botanical Garden Contact: Donald Curtin Telephone: (718)631-0538

Long Island Aquarium Society

ISIassau County Aquarium Society

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Friday of each month (except July and August) at: The Holtsville Park and Zoo 249 Buckley Road; Holtsville, NY | | |

Meets: 8:00 PM. - 2nd Tuesday of each month at the American Legion Post 1066 66 Veterans Blvd.; Massapequa, NY Next Meeting: February 10, 2004 Speaker: Harry Faustraann Topic: Med Your Tropical Fish Live Food Contact: Mike Foraii (516)798-6766 , fwsl .com/index.html

Contact: Vinny Kreyling (516)938-4066 http://liasonline.org/ North Jersey Aquarium Society

Norwalk Aquarium Society

Meets: 8:00 PM - 3rd Thursday of the month at the Meadowlands Environmental Center; 1 Dekorte Park Plaza - Lyndhurst, NJ

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Thursday of each month at: Earthplace - the Nature Discovery Center; Westport, CT

Contact: NJAS Hotline at (732) 332-1392 http://www.nj as .net/

Contact: Mrs. Anne Stone Broadmeyer

ore-mail: tcoletti@obius.jnj.com

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Telephone: (203) 834-2253 http://norwalkas.org/html/

February 2004

Fin Fun pHish Water is acidic if it is below a pH of 7.0, and alkaline if it is above (7.0 being "neutral"). While many fish (especially tank raised fish) can tolerate a range of pH values, it is always best to match thepH of your tank water with the pH of the water in which the fish is normally found in the wild, and certainly best not to put a fish normally found in alkaline water into a tank of acid water, and vice-versa. See if you can match up the fish listed below with the optimal water condition for each, with respect to pH:

Name of Fish

Acid Water

Alkaline Water

Aphyosemion cms tr ale Neolamprologus leleupi Julidochromis regani Phenacogramm us inter uptus Cyprinodon macularis Rasbora heteromorpha Apistogramma bitaeniata Pseiidotropheus elongatus

Solution to last month's puzzle Do You Know modem AQUARIUM? 1) Of the following, which is the only column to have appeared in every one of our 100 issues to date? Undergravel Reporter 2) What was the name of the series, edited by Jason Kerner, that featured old aquarium product ads? Antiquarium 3) In September 1996, Modern Aquarium had a theme issue, with an Apple Snail on the cover. What was the "theme" of that issue? Lazy Man 4) Several issues of Modern Aquarium featured postage stamps on the front cover. The September 2000 issue featured postage stamps from which country? United States 5) The cover of the December 1998 issue featured postage stamps from which country? Several different nations 6) Which Modern Aquarium column has been reprinted most by other aquarium society publications? Catfish Chronicles 7) The May 2003 issue had the following articles: "A Special Kind of Dad," "My Dad the Fishman," and "Married With Fish." They were all written by family members of what GCAS member? Mark Soberman 8) One of the most beloved features of Modern Aquarium is "Looking Through The Lens With The GCAS." Who is the photographer/author of this popular column? Claudia Dickinson

February 2004

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)